Media

22.04.2018

8th Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon 2018 started a new page in the running history of Ukraine

On April 22 the capital city of Ukraine hosted the annual Kyiv half marathon – 8th Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon. 11,000 participants from 52 countries came to the starting lines. Almost 25,000 people filled the streets of the city to support the runners, meanwhile over 15,000 fans were watching the competition online. The route was usual and traditional: one lap along the Dnipro river, the athletes started and finished at Kontraktova Square.

This event became historical for Ukraine – for the first time our country hosted a race of IAAF Bronze Label (the status awarded by the International Association of Athletic Federations). This status guarantees that the competition will be held at the highest level according to the world standards of quality, safety and service. What is important is that for the first time the race was attended by elite representatives of not only Ukrainian, but of the world running community. The events of this level among post-soviet countries are held only in Riga and Minsk.

No doubt, the most interesting part of 8th Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon was the competition between women on the half marathon course. Right from the start, the head group of leaders included three athletes: Kenyan runner Marion Jepkurui Limo, Ukrainians Viktoriia Kaliuzhna, Yuliia Shmatenko. Around Trukhaniv island Viktoriia became a leader, Marion Limo was right behind her while Yuliia was 10-15 meters behind. In the final portion of the course Viktoriia Kaliuzhna not only made the Kenyan runner Marion Limo compete, but started getting away from her, which resulted in the Ukrainian runner winning the race and setting the new track record in the rather capricious windy weather! Thus, Viktoriia Kaliuzhna finished first with the new track record — 1:13:43, Kenyan runner Marion Limo was second — 1:14:51, the last of the three winners was Yuliia Shmatenko with the time 1:14:54.

«I am satisfied with the way everything went today, – shared Viktoriia Kaliuzhna, – since my coach and I were purposefully training for this race. We had a high-altitude preparation in Turkey. This victory is very important and precious for me personally. Of course, I came to demonstrate a high score, but I did not think I would win since we had very strong foreign runners as well as very fast Ukrainian athletes. As I was running onto the first bridge (Havanskyi bridge), I realized I could win. I was confidently running uphill because I felt I could get away from my competitors».

Among men the main competition was among the representatives of African nations. Last year winner and track record holder Ethiopian runner Lencho Anbesa (1:03:57) had a nice competition represented by the Kenyan runner Nicholas Makau with a high personal best 1:00:58. The favorites crossed the 10 km and 15 km marks together and only close examination of the finish could help determine the winner! Anbesa Lencho won, and he not only became the double winner of the half marathon, but he also set the track record for the second time in a row! From now on, the goal for the next year half marathon will be 1 hour 2 minutes and 56 seconds. The result of the athlete from Kenya Nicholas Macau was only 2 seconds more. Ukrainian Roman Romanenko finished third with the result 1:07:58 .

The winner and the track record holder shared his impressions:

«I really like the organisation and the Kyiv half marathon altogether, so I did plan to beat my own record this year. I definitely plan to return to Kyiv for the third time! Moreover, I am considering a full marathon in the capital city of Ukraine!»

During the press briefing Iryna Lishchynska, the sports director of Run Ukraine, shared that Anbesa Lencho was ready to finish the course in one hour and one minute. However, the problems with air travels, the flight was delayed twice, Anbesa had to spend half a day in Istanbul influenced the shape of the athlete.

One of the requirements of getting IAAF BRONZE LABEL is setting a prize fund for the winners and finalists of the competition.

“Kyiv half marathon 8th Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon opened the Run Ukraine Running League 2018. This year we brought together almost 11,000 participants from 52 countries. This is the record number of participants in the history of the event. The prize fund this year amounted to 242,300 UAH, which is by 100 thousand hryvnia more than last year. It was divided between five first finishers among men and women in absolute championship, additional prizes were given to athletes who set this year’s track records. Monetary rewards were also given to the participants winning the first, second and third places in seven age groups among men and women. Running movement is developing in our country and running becomes the catalyst of sports tourism ”, – said Dmytro Chernitskyi, the General Manager of Run Ukraine.

Anyone can take part in the event despite the age. This year the oldest participant of the 8th Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon was a 77-year-old Ukrainian Oleh Shetankov among men with the result of 2 hours and 36 minutes. Participation of such athletes proves that there are no age limits for running.

“For the fourth year in a row Nova Poshta helps develop the running culture of Ukraine. It is important for is the implement projects that change the lives of Ukrainians. This is true for running events, with every year the number of participants is increasing, which means that Ukraine is becoming a running country and soon every other Ukrainian will start running. This is the best motivation to continue in 2019», – said the co-founder of the “Nova Poshta” company Inna Popereshniuk.

Kyiv half marathon traditionally included “Fundraising marathon – 2018. Kyiv”. Its goal was to raise funds for the projects of 15 charity funds on the platform of Ukrainian Philanthropic Marketplace and Tabletochki fund. The fundraising will last through April 27.

The 2 km course of the 8th Kyiv half marathon included a charity race. Its participants were raising funds for the equipment of the rehabilitation room of the GI Institute of traumatology and orthopaedics of the NAMS of Ukraine . Complete and speedy rehabilitation of patients who have problems with joints (including athletes) requires modern equipments which is not fully provided now .

You do not have to be a professional athlete in order to finish the main half marathon course. The 21 km course was finished by the «1+1» TV presenter Marichka Padalko and Yehor Soboliev , the lead singer of the “A.R.M.I.A” band Svitlana Safronova . There were also celebrities who chose other courses, including: Artem Haharin, Ira Filatova, Roman Sobol and many others.

This year along the route there were 11 reanimobiles, 23 representatives of the “Red Cross”, 18 rescuers of the Maltese Relief Service, medics of the Kyiv union of the Samaritans of Ukraine and 6 crews of «MotoHelp». Seven participants of the race were hospitalized – they all were conscious, their life and health are not in danger.

The Nova Poshta Kyiv Half Marathon opened the series of events of the Run Ukraine Running League 2018, which unites seven running competitions in five cities of Ukraine. The event took place under the patronage of IAAF, Athletic Federation of Ukraine, Athletic Federation of Kyiv and Kyiv City State Administration.